The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1887-06-09

income is lost also"
So sympathetic was MI. Browne that
he begged to know all the details.
These, however. the major. was unable
to furnish; in fact, he could explain
nothing satisfactorily, SO great was the
state of excitement into which he had
worked himself. i H.
"Hush" he said, AS he heard Maude
approaching, "Not a word to her. 1
wouldn't disturb her peace Of mind for
worlds, poor girl, until I am certain
how the matter stands"
The next day, about an hour after
her uncle had left for London, Maude
received the following penciled note
from Mr.. BROWNIE
my Own DARLING: I am the most
unlucky dog that ever lived! l passed
a wretched night, and this morning I
am too ill to leave my bed. To be dis
abled to-day when I was to have az
ranged for the event which is to make
me the happiest man in England! I
have sent for the village ''bones," and
if he can but patch me up it may not
yet be too late. Send a book back by
bearer, to account for having received
a letter from your nearly frantic
JACK"
Poor Maude! The t~orturing suspense
of that day! In the evening she ven
tured to ask the landlady to inquire
how Mr.. Browne was. mo better"
was the alarming reply.
Maude passed a sleepless night. In
the morning she received a second note
from her dear Jack, even more despair
ing in it's tone than the former one.
'Fate is against u.s." he wrote. II
feel as if I shall never be able to call
you mine"
In the middle of the day she again
sent to inquire for her lover, and was
overjoyed when she heard he was much
better and was even thinking of getting
up, his recovery bidding fair to be as
sudden as his seizure.
That evening Major Henderson re-
turned. Hardly had he knocked at the
door when MI. Browne emerged from
the opposite cottage.
''What news, sir?" asked the SYM
pathetic Mr.. Browne.
'sThe worst possible" replied the
major, throwing himself into an easy
chair and covering his face with his
hands. ''That poor girl yonder is a
beggar, and I have but a hundred a
year left
Maude looked from one to the other
in utter bewilderment, and then cross
ed over to her uncle, trying to COM
fort him and gain some explanation at
the same time.
81 feel That ttris is-ne scene. for a
gssfangerstosMifnesss said MI. Browne.
,fSir, You have my deepeakMsympath5a
and / am sure thar presAnt
moment I can show III lnsne-better way
ItitIaL hg withdrawing.
Maude followed aElah9s-rfh door,
She was much distressed on her uncle !
account, but did not fully realize her
own loss of fortune. .
care you really better, dear Jackp"
she asked, anxiously.
eyes, thank you. Quite cured, Good
bye," and he was gone.
That her lovers leave-taking was a
little abrupt did strike Maude; she was,
however, far too confused by the turn
affairs had taken to attach much impor-
lance to the first circumstance. When
she turned to her uncle he seemed
wonderfully better, and at supper he
talked quite ch~eerfully of their future.
Maude passed another sleepless night.
She did not so much mind the terrible
loss she had sustained on her own &C.
count, but she was bitterly disappoint-
ed that she could not do all that she
had promised for her dear Jack. She
determined, however, to be the most
loving and economical wife possible.
At all events, her uncle would not be
able to accuse Jack of being mercenary
now, and there was much comfort in
that reflection. Perhaps, after all, they
would be able to have a proper we'd
ding, only, of course, it would have to
be a very quiet one. How much better
that would be than running away and
deceiving her uncle, who had always
been sogkind to her! ;
When she came down to breakfast
the next morning she was looking pale
and a little worn, after her two sleep
less nights. The major, however,
seemed to have succeeded in throwing
off his grief in quite a wonderful man
ner and was in his usual spirits.
'Have you heard how MI. Browne is
this morningp' Maude ventured to
ask the landlady's daughter.
"Why, miss, he paid up for the week
and went off by the mail-train last
might, declaring he was sure the place
fdidn't suit him." g.,
Poor Maude! The blow did indeed
fall on her with crushing force,
"Dear me, rather sudden! We shall
miss the old gentleman-eh, Miss
MaudeP" said the major, as soon as the
uncle and niece were left together. He
laid a slight stress on the adjective, and
there was a suspicion of fun in his eyes.
It was, however, no laughing matter to
Maude; she, poor girl, unable longer to
act her part, burst into an uncontroll-
able fit of weeping.
Poor child, poor child!" said the
major, compassionately; tits a sharp
lesson for you to learn. But it is bet
ter to bear a little pain now than to
suffer for the remainder of your life,
as would most probably have been
your ease if. l had not paid that scoun-
drel out of his own coin" .
The threatened loss of fortune was
all a fabrication, Major Henderson hay
top room in the Honeysuckle Cottage.
The truth was the major had d;scov-
cred what was going on, when he had
come upon the lovers so Unexpectedly.
He then devised the scheme, which he
atterward carried out 80 successfully,
in order to test the sincerity of Lieut..
Mapleson's attachment to Maude.
Major Henderson had, of course.
been obliged to take the lanlady into
his condolences. and she. fully enfefinD